Around 88,300 three-year-olds to begin school course this Friday in nurseries

The Councillor for Education, Sonia Gaya, has highlighted the increase in students with 8,912 new enrolments for this non-compulsory education stage, representing an 11.22% increase compared to the last academic year.

In this regard, Andalusia is to allocate 175 million euros this year to this socio-educational service; 3.7% more than in 2016, making it in the highest investing community at this level. The coverage rate has already reached 47.24% of the population of three-year-olds and under and exceeds, by more than 14 points, the rate of 33% set by the European Union as objective for 2020.

In addition, the Department predicts that the number of registrations will increase by 2,700, with the additional call opened for family benefits, to promote schooling at first-stage Early Childhood Education schools affiliated with the to the Government's bonus programme. Applications may be submitted from 1 to 15 September.

In Andalusia, 1,399 schools provide first-stage Early Childhood Education (0 to 2 years), of which 86% are affiliated with the new model Government subsidy programme, which seeks to promote early schooling and adapt bonuses to the socio-economic conditions of real families in Andalusia, and thus reach those who need it the most.